GALLERY | Chester Northgate plans submitted

Chester Zoo has revealed plans for its newest attraction, an extensive African savannah habitat featuring giraffes, zebra, ostriches and antelopes, alongside a range of lodges and safari tents for overnight stays.

A grade two-listed building at Newgate Street will be converted into high-end apartments under plans being brought forward by MJW Group.

The council is finalising its move out of its headquarters overlooking Chester Racecourse with co-working brand Spaces set to take the remaining 37,000 sq ft in the building.

Chester-based Blueoak Estates has acquired Concord House on Canal Street, and will start on site in August with an office-to-residential scheme.

Hear from the chief executive of Cheshire West & Chester Council alongside Cheshire’s most prominent property developers at this Place North West event, taking place on 6 June.

Architect AHR has showcased the first of its designs for Chester Northgate ahead of further public consultation, which gets under way this week.

Against officer recommendation, Cheshire West & Chester’s planning committee has refused proposals for a major redevelopment of Chester Racecourse arguing the scheme would be “overly dominant and incongruous in its setting”.

Chester has been named the UK’s most improved hotel market, while Liverpool is the third-strongest performing across the country behind only Edinburgh and Belfast, according to data from Colliers.

Chester Race Company is closing in on a start date for its £100m redevelopment, with three planning applications set for approval.